Shape changing material

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is configured with one or more sensors arranged to detect a first shape-related parameter, one or more control elements arranged to provide a force, and circuitry operably connected to the one or more sensors and the one or more control elements to determine the force provided to the one or more control elements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to and claims the benefit of theearliest available effective filing date(s) from the following listedapplication(s) (the “Related Applications”) (e.g., claims earliestavailable priority dates for other than provisional patent applicationsor claims benefits under 35 USC §119(e) for provisional patentapplications, for any and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent,etc. applications of the Related Application(s)). All subject matter ofthe Related Applications and of any and all parent, grandparent,great-grandparent, etc. applications of the Related Applications,including any priority claims, is incorporated herein by reference tothe extent such subject matter is not inconsistent herewith.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/387,481, entitled SHAPE CHANGING MATERIAL, naming Roderick A.Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., asinventors, filed 30 Apr. 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,992,217, which iscurrently co-pending or is an application of which a currentlyco-pending application is entitled to the benefit of the filing date.

For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/660,517, entitled SHAPE SENSING CLOTHES TO INFORM THE WEARER OF ACONDITION, naming Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare,Lowell L. Wood, Jr., and Victoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors, filed 26Feb. 2010, which is currently co-pending or is an application of which acurrently co-pending application is entitled to the benefit of thefiling date.

For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the presentapplication constitutes a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/135,445, entitled SHAPE CHANGING MATERIAL, naming Roderick A.Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr., andVictoria Y. H. Wood, as inventors, filed 5 Jul. 2011, now U.S. Pat. No.8,272,069, which is currently co-pending or is an application of which acurrently co-pending application is entitled to the benefit of thefiling date.

The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has published a notice to theeffect that the USPTO's computer programs require that patent applicantsreference both a serial number and indicate whether an application is acontinuation, continuation-in-part, or divisional of a parentapplication. Stephen G. Kunin, Benefit of Prior-Filed Application, USPTOOfficial Gazette Mar. 18, 2003. The present Applicant Entity(hereinafter “Applicant”) has provided above a specific reference to theapplication(s) from which priority is being claimed as recited bystatute. Applicant understands that the statute is unambiguous in itsspecific reference language and does not require either a serial numberor any characterization, such as “continuation” or“continuation-in-part,” for claiming priority to U.S. patentapplications. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Applicant understands thatthe USPTO's computer programs have certain data entry requirements, andhence Applicant has provided designation(s) of a relationship betweenthe present application and its parent application(s) as set forthabove, but expressly points out that such designation(s) are not to beconstrued in any way as any type of commentary and/or admission as towhether or not the present application contains any new matter inaddition to the matter of its parent application(s).

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a garment including: a fabric;one or more sensors, the one or more sensors being arranged to detect afirst shape-related parameter of the fabric and responsive to thedetected first shape-related parameter to produce a first signal; andone or more control elements responsive to a second signal differentfrom the first signal, the one or more control elements being arrangedto provide a force on the fabric corresponding to the second signal. Theapparatus further comprises circuitry responsive to the first signal todetermine a first shape of the fabric and configured to produce thesecond signal according to a first determined change in the fabricshape.

In another embodiment, an apparatus comprises a fabric having a shapeand including: one or more sensors, the one or more sensors beingarranged to detect a first shape-related parameter of the fabric andresponsive to the detected first shape-related parameter to produce afirst signal; and one or more control elements responsive to a secondsignal different from the first signal, the one or more control elementsbeing arranged to provide a force on the fabric corresponding to thesecond signal. The apparatus further comprises circuitry responsive tothe first signal to determine an adjusted change in the fabric shape andconfigured to produce the second signal according to the determinedadjusted change in the fabric shape.

In another embodiment, a method comprises: receiving a first signalcorresponding to a first region of fabric; processing the first signalto produce a first set of fabric shape changing data; producing a secondsignal based on the first set of fabric shape changing data; andtransmitting the second signal corresponding to a second region offabric.

In another embodiment, a method comprises: sensing a first shape-relatedparameter, the first shape-related parameter corresponding to a firstregion of fabric; responsive to the sensed first shape-relatedparameter, producing a first fabric shape changing signal; and applyingforce to a second region of fabric according to the first fabric shapechanging signal.

In another embodiment, an apparatus comprises: means for receiving afirst signal corresponding to a first region of fabric; means forprocessing the first signal to produce a first set of fabric shapechanging data; means for producing a second signal based on the firstset of fabric shape changing data; and means for transmitting the secondsignal corresponding to a second region of fabric.

In another embodiment, a method comprises: producing a first set ofinitial condition data corresponding to a predicted first shape of afirst region of fabric; processing the produced first set of initialcondition data to produce a first set of fabric shape changing data fora second region of fabric; and applying force to a second region offabric according to the first set of fabric shape changing data.

In another embodiment, an apparatus comprises: circuitry configured toreceive a first signal corresponding to a first region of fabric;circuitry configured to process the first signal to produce a first setof fabric shape changing data; circuitry configured to produce a secondsignal based on the first set of fabric shape changing data; andcircuitry configured to transmit the second signal corresponding to asecond region of fabric.

In another embodiment, an apparatus comprises a garment including: afabric; and one or more control elements responsive to a second signaldifferent from the first signal, the one or more control elements beingarranged to provide a force on the fabric corresponding to the secondsignal. The apparatus further comprises: one or more sensors, the one ormore sensors being arranged to detect a first shape-related parameter ofthe fabric and responsive to the detected first shape-related parameterto produce a first signal; and circuitry responsive to the first signalto determine a first shape of the fabric and configured to produce thesecond signal according to a first determined change in the fabricshape.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be inany way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments,and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and featureswill become apparent by reference to the drawings and the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus including a fabric and circuitry.

FIG. 2 shows an apparatus including a garment, circuitry, and a userinput.

FIG. 3 shows an apparatus including a garment and circuitry.

FIG. 4 shows a system including a garment, circuitry, a power source,and a detector.

FIG. 5 shows circuitry with a display.

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart depicting a method.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart depicting a method.

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart depicting a method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here.

In one embodiment, depicted in FIG. 1, an apparatus 100 comprises afabric 102, one or more sensors 104 arranged to detect a firstshape-related parameter of the fabric 102 and responsive to the detectedfirst shape-related parameter to produce a first signal; and one or morecontrol elements 106 responsive to a second signal different from thefirst signal, the one or more control elements 106 being arranged toprovide a force on the fabric 102 corresponding to the second signal.The apparatus 100 further comprises circuitry 108 responsive to thefirst signal to determine a first shape of the fabric 102 and configuredto produce the second signal according to a first determined change inthe fabric shape. FIG. 2 shows the fabric 102 forming a portion of agarment 200, where the garment 200 shown in FIG. 2 is a knee brace.

The first shape-related parameter may include a variety of differentparameters depending on what the fabric 102 is incorporated into. Forexample, where the fabric 102 forms at least part of a garment, thefirst shape-related parameter may be a force due to motion of the user,impact with something, stress/strain on the fabric due to stretching, ora different parameter. Where the fabric forms at least part of a sail,the first shape-related parameter may be a force due to wind relative tothe motion of the sail. Where the fabric forms at least part of aracket, the first shape-related parameter may be a force due to acollision between the fabric and a target, such as a ball. The firstshape-related parameter may include a force, a stress, a pressure, astrain, a bend, a twist, a deformation, a geometry, a surface topology,an orientation, a reflection, or a position of one or more portions ofthe fabric 102.

There are many different applications for the fabric 102 and one skilledin the art may incorporate the fabric 102 into a different device. Theone or more sensors 104 may sense strain, bends, or twists, or adifferent type of force, and may include, for example, optical fibersand/or conductive fibers that provide a change in electricalconductivity according to their contact with a body, as will bedescribed in more detail in the following.

The fabric 102 may include a number of materials, including but notlimited to metal, polyester, Tyvek®, nylon, spandex, rayon, cotton,wool, leather, linen, soy, bamboo, rubber, down, silk, paper, a blend ofmaterials, or a material not listed here. The fabric 102 may include anorganic material, an inorganic material, or a combination of both. Thefabric 102 may be a woven fabric or a non-woven fabric. In someembodiments the fabric 102 may include a recycled material, wherein therecycled material may derive from paper, from a synthetic material, orfrom a different source. In some embodiments the fabric 102 may beconfigured to produce a relatively tight fit, and in this caseappropriate materials such as spandex or a different elastic materialmay be selected.

Although FIG. 1 portrays the one or more sensors 104 as isolated sensorson the fabric 102, in other embodiments the one or more sensors 104 mayhave a different configuration. For example, the one or more sensors 104may include, for example, conductive fibers woven throughout the fabric102.

The one or more sensors 104 and/or the one or more control elements 106may be operably connected to the circuitry 108 and/or one or more othercomponents, such as a power source 402 (shown in FIG. 4) and/or adetector. The connection may be electrical, electromagnetic, ultrasonic,acoustic, or via a different kind of connection. Examples ofelectromagnetic energy may include a photonic signal, a wirelesselectromagnetic signal, and/or a different kind of signal includingelectromagnetic energy, and may incorporate wavelengths the opticaland/or RF portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, other portions of theelectromagnetic spectrum, or a variety of different spectral bands. Theelectromagnetic signal may be guided, such as via an optical fiber orother type of guide, unguided, such as in wireless transmission, or somecombination of both. The connection may be a type of connection notlisted here, such as a mechanical and/or pneumatic connection, and oneskilled in the art may apply established communication techniquesaccording to the particular embodiment.

Depending on the type of connection the apparatus may further includeone or more converters 202, as shown in FIG. 2, arranged to convert onetype of energy into another type of energy (for example, electricalenergy to electromagnetic energy or electromagnetic energy to electricalenergy). In some embodiments, first and second signals may be sentand/or received wirelessly to the circuitry 108 in a location remoterelative to the apparatus 100. In other embodiments the circuitry 108may be in several locations, such as in the case where minimalprocessing is done at the location of the fabric 102 and where signalsare sent and received to/from a remote location for other processing.Such a setup would allow for miniaturization of the processor such thatit may be incorporated in the fabric, but also allow for processing doneby a larger processor by wirelessly communicating with said processor.There are many different permutations of the different technologiespresented herein and one skilled in the art may combine the differenttechnologies according to a specific application.

The one or more sensors 104 may include one or more of a variety oftechnologies arranged to detect a force on the fabric 102. For example,the one or more sensors 104 may include one or more transducers (whichmay include an electroactive polymer) that produce an electrical changewith mechanical deflection or mechanical strain (such as a stretch inthe fabric 102). One example of such a sensor is described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,809,462 to Pelrine et al., entitled ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER SENSORS,which is incorporated herein by reference.

In another embodiment the one or more sensors 104 may be configured tomeasure bend and/or twist, and may include optical fibers and/orelectrically conductive fibers, examples of which are described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,127,672 to Danisch et al., entitled TOPOLOGICAL AND MOTIONMEASURING TOOL, and in U.S. Pat. No. 6,563,107 to Danisch et al.,entitled TOPOLOGICAL AND MOTION MEASURING TOOL, each of which isincorporated herein by reference.

In another embodiment the one or more sensors 104 may be configured todetect strain, pressure, and/or position by detecting changes inelectrical impedance in conductive fibers, an example of which isdescribed in U.S. Pat. App. No. 2006/0258247 to Tao et al., entitledPRESSURE SENSING FABRIC, which is incorporated herein by reference.Other examples of detecting changes in electrical impedance to determinestrain are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,615 to Smela, entitledWEARABLE EFFECT-EMITTING STRAIN GAUGE DEVICE, and in U.S. Pat. App. No.2004/0199232 to Wallace et al., entitled FEEDBACK DEVICE HAVINGELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE FABRIC, each of which is incorporated herein byreference.

The one or more sensors 104 may include other types of sensors, such asa camera, a shape sensor, a position sensor, a separation sensorconfigured to measure the separation between two points, or a differenttype of sensor. The one or more sensors 104 may also include one or morecomponents and/or devices which operate in conjunction with the sensorto measure the shape-related property of the fabric, including but notlimited a reflector, a retroreflector, a beacon (where the beacon may beconfigured to use: electromagnetic energy, including but not limited tooptical energy, RF energy, or a different band of electromagneticenergy; ultrasonic energy; or a different kind of energy), an RFID, or adifferent type of marker, target, and/or other device.

The one or more sensors 104 may further be configured to provide alocation, magnitude, and/or direction of a detected force, a detectedstress, or a detected strain.

The one or more control elements 106 may include one or more of avariety of technologies arranged to provide a force on the fabric 102.For example, in one embodiment the one or more control elements 106 mayinclude an electroactive polymer, as described in U.S. Pat. No.7,138,075, U.S. Pat. App. No. 2004/0007695, and U.S. Pat. App. No. U.S.2007/0215839, each of which is to Anquetil et al., each of which isentitled MOLECULAR ACTUATORS, AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF, and each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference. Further description of theuse of electroactive polymers as a control element is described in U.S.Pat. App. No. 2007/0265140 to Kim et al., entitled APPARATUS AND METHODENHANCING MUSCULAR MOVEMENT, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In other embodiments the one or more control elements 106 may include anarray of mechanical actuators, one example of which is described in U.S.Pat. No. 7,113,848, U.S. Pat. App. No. 2004/0249510, and U.S. Pat. App.No. 2007/0038331, each of which is to Hanson et al., each of which isentitled HUMAN EMULATION ROBOT SYSTEM, and each of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

In other embodiments the one or more control elements 106 may include amechanical metamaterial, one example of which is described in U.S. Pat.App. No. 2006/0192465 to Kornbluh et al., entitled MECHANICALMETA-MATERIALS, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Other embodiments may include one or more control elements 106 notlisted above, such as: hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, magnetic,thermally induced, and/or chemoactive control elements, MEMS, ormechanical elements such as levers, pulleys, or a different type ofcontrol element not listed here. The choice of the one or more controlelements 106 may depend on a number of factors, such as the size and/orscale of the fabric 102, the type of fabric 102, the variations indimensions of the fabric 102, and/or other factors.

The one or more control elements 106 may be dynamically variable in someembodiments such that they may vary continuously, in response to themotion of the user or in response to a different stimulus. The one ormore control elements 106 may further be configured to provide amagnetic force, a thermally induced force, or a different kind of forceon the fabric 102. Further, the one or more control elements 106 may beconfigured to provide a force on one or more individual fibers in thefabric 102, where the force may include a longitudinal stretching force,a lateral force, a bending moment, a bending force, or a torque. The oneor more control elements 106 may be external to the fabric 102,proximate to the fabric 102, integral to the fabric 102, or have someother positioning relative to the fabric 102. The one or more controlelements 102 may be configured to provide a force transversely to thefabric 102 or in a different direction relative to the fabric 102.

In the case where the one or more sensors 104 and/or the one or morecontrol elements 106 include two or more sensors 104 and/or controlelements 106, they may be configured in an array, which may be regularor irregular. Further, the one or more sensors 104 may be configured toprovide one or more corresponding measurements, the one or morecorresponding measurements being associated with one or morecorresponding regions of the fabric, such as in the case where the oneor more sensors 104 includes a camera, and the camera obtainsinformation related to an array of regions corresponding to the fabric102. Such regions may form a regular array or an irregular array. Inthis embodiment, the one or more corresponding measurements may at leastpartially determine the detected first shape-related parameter.

The fabric 102 may be included in a variety of different applications.For example, the fabric 102 may form all or part of a garment, such as aknee brace, which will be described in greater detail with respect toFIG. 2. In embodiments including garments the one or more sensors 104may be located at or proximate to a joint or other location where twistor bend may occur, such as a knee, elbow, knuckle, or waist, howeverthese are just examples of where the one or more sensors 104 may belocated and the location of the one or more sensors 104 may depend onthe particular embodiment. In one embodiment, a garment may be designedfor those with circulatory problems, such as support hose or othergarments. In such an embodiment, the circuitry 108 may also receiveinput from an outside source such as a heart rate monitor, thermometer,or other source (for example, the input 210 as shown in FIG. 2), wherethe circuitry 108 may be further responsive to a signal from the outsidesource to determine the adjusted change in fabric shape.

In another embodiment the fabric 102 may be incorporated into shapewear,where the garment includes one or more sensors 104 for determining anunmodulated shape of the person and one or more control elements 106 foradjusting the shape of the garment to produce a modulated shape of theperson. For example, the one or more sensors 104 may be configured todetect stress and/or strain on the garment, and the one or more controlelements 106 may be configured to alter the shape of the garment untilthe stress and/or strain on the one or more sensors 104 goes above orbelow a certain threshold value.

In another embodiment the fabric 102 may be incorporated intoself-fitting garments that are initially quite loose and, when put on abody, detect the shape of the body and self-fit accordingly. Suchclothing may be useful, for example, for elderly or injured people,those people who may have difficulty with small buttons and snaps, etc.In another embodiment the fabric 102 may be incorporated in a devicetargeted for therapeutic uses such as a bandage designed to reduceswelling. In this embodiment the sensors may be configured to detectswelling according to stresses on the fabric 102 and may applycompression to those areas where swelling is detected, where thelocation and amount of compression is related to the location and amountof swelling.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which the fabric 102 is incorporated intoa garment 200, where in this embodiment the garment 200 is a knee brace.In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the one or more control elements 106 includea shape memory material which expands and contracts depending on avoltage applied to the material, causing the fabric 102 to expand andcontract accordingly and causing the garment 200 to tighten and loosencorrespondingly. In this embodiment the one or more sensors 104 and theone or more control elements 106 are operably connected to a converter202 that is configured to communicate wirelessly with the circuitry 108.Thus the converter 202 in this embodiment is configured to convert anelectrical signal to an electromagnetic signal, and to convert anelectromagnetic signal to an electrical signal. FIG. 2 symbolicallyshows the first signal 204 produced by the one or more sensors 104 andthe second signal 206 to which the one or more control elements 106 areresponsive.

FIG. 2 further shows a user input 210. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2the user input 210 is a device that may be worn on the user's wrist andis configured to communicate wirelessly to produce the signal 208 (shownsymbolically) to communicate with the circuitry 108. However, indifferent embodiments the user input 210 may have a different form, suchas a switch located on the garment 200 such that the user may selectdifferent settings, or the user input 210 may be located proximate tothe circuitry 108. There are many different forms that a user input 210may take and many different ways that it may be incorporated with agarment 200, and the example of a device the user wears on the wrist isjust one of many different forms that the user input 210 may take.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the user input 210 is such that theuser can select from a variety of settings. The settings may allow theuser to select initial conditions around which the circuitry 108 mayadjust. However, in other embodiments the user input 210 may be directlyconnected to the circuitry 108. For example, in some embodiments thecircuitry 108 may provide the user with options for adjustments to bemade to the fabric, where the user may select from the options. In someembodiments the user may select from a range of possible shapes and/orsizes of a garment. Or, the user may input data into the system to beincluded in the data processing, such as one or more measurements, usesfor the garment, temperature, or a different piece of information. Thereare many different ways that user input 210 may be incorporated in sucha device and one skilled in the art can tailor the user input 210according to a particular embodiment. FIG. 2 shows the user input 210producing the third signal 208. However, in other embodiments thecircuitry 108 may be responsive to a third signal 208, where the thirdsignal 208 is not produced by a user input 210. For example, athermometer configured to measure ambient temperature may be configuredto produce the third signal 208. Or, another device may be configured tomeasure a physiological parameter of the user, such as heart rate and/orbody temperature, and produce the third signal 208 accordingly. Thereare many different configurations for which input of the third signal208 to the circuitry may be useful.

Although FIG. 2 shows the circuitry 108 as being separate from the userinput 210 and from the garment 200, in other embodiments the circuitrymay be in a different location. The circuitry 108 may be located, forexample, in a device such as that housing the user input 210 that theuser may wear on their wrist, it may be part of a treadmill or otherexercise device, or it may be in a different location. The circuitry 108may be geographically separate from the garment 200. There are manydifferent locations where it may be advantageous to have the circuitry108, and different embodiments may include different remote locations ofthe circuitry 108. Further, although the circuitry 108 is shown as beingseparate from the fabric 102 in the embodiment of FIG. 2, in otherembodiments the circuitry 108 may be on or integral to the fabric 102.

Although FIG. 2 shows only a few of the one or more sensors 104 and theone or more control elements 106 for illustrative purposes, the number,locations, and/or density of the one or more sensors 104 and the one ormore control elements 106 may be different from that portrayed in FIG.2. For example, the fabric 102 may include thousands of sensors 104and/or control elements 106 woven together. Further, although FIG. 2shows the one or more sensors 104 and one or more control elements 106as being substantially separate from the fabric 102 for illustrativepurposes, in other embodiments the one or more sensors 104 and/or theone or more control elements 106 may form part or even all of the fabric102. In different embodiments the fabric 102 may includes sensors 104and/or control elements 106 in regularly-spaced intervals, or in randomand/or irregularly spaced intervals, depending on the application and/ormethod of fabrication.

The one or more sensors 104 may be configured to sense a variety ofdifferent things. For example, the one or more sensors 104 may beconfigured to determine the shape of the fabric 102 and/or the shape ofa body part proximate to the fabric 102, where in this case the bodypart is a knee. Such an embodiment may be employed in an embodiment, forexample, where the garment 200 is used to provide measurements of aperson, for medical and/or therapeutic reasons, for retail purposes suchas when the user orders items from a catalog and precise measurementsare needed, or for another reason.

FIG. 3 shows a garment similar to that of FIG. 2, wherein the one ormore sensors 104 includes a camera, wherein the camera is configured tomonitor the garment 200 and provide the first signal 204 accordingly tothe circuitry 108. Although FIG. 3 shows only a camera as the one ormore sensors 104 in FIG. 3, in other embodiments the camera may beemployed with other types of sensors. Further, other embodiments mayinclude one or more other or different types of sensors that areexternal to the garment 200. In some embodiments the camera (the one ormore sensors 104 shown in FIG. 3) may be configured to monitor somethingdifferent from the garment 200, such as user behavior, posture, or adifferent variable, such that second signal 206 sent to the one or morecontrol elements 106 may be configured according to informationregarding such user behavior, posture, etc. Further, although a camerais shown in FIG. 3 as the one or more sensors 104, in some embodimentsthe one or more sensors 104 may include a different monitoring device,including but not limited to a biological sensor or other device. Inthis case, the one or more control elements 106 may be configured tostimulate the muscles of the wearer, to provide heat to the wearer, orprovide a different therapeutic or other function.

FIG. 3 further includes a display 308 configured to show informationreceived by the one or more sensors 104. Although in FIG. 3 the displayis shown as being directly connected to the one or more sensors 104, inother embodiments the display 308 may be operably connected to thecircuitry 108, wherein the display may be configured to show processedor unprocessed signals and/or information. Further, FIG. 3 shows thedisplay 308 as showing the entire garment 200, however in otherembodiments the display 308 may be configured to show only a portion ofthe garment 200, and/or may be configured to display the information ina different way than an image. The embodiment may further include a userinput, not shown, configured such that a user may select the informationreceived by the one or more sensors 104, where the user may use thedisplay 308 to help guide their selection. In this case the user may bethe individual wearing the garment or a different person or thing.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the garment 200 includes a firstregion 304 and a second region 306, wherein the garment 200 isconfigured with one or more control elements 106 such that they providea force between the first region 304 and the second region 306. Althoughthe first region 304 and the second region 306 are shown as partiallyoverlapping, in other embodiments they may overlap more or less than isshown in FIG. 3, or not at all. Further, the first region 304 and thesecond region 306 may be on different layers of fabric 102, or may be ina configuration different from that shown in FIG. 3. Further, althoughthe first and second regions 304, 306 are described with respect to FIG.3 such that the one or more control elements 106 provide a force betweenthe first and second regions 304, 306, in other embodiments the firstand second regions may be related in a different way, and the sketchingof the different regions 304, 306 is intended for illustrative purposes.

FIG. 4 shows the garment 200 as part of a system 400. In this embodimentthe system 400 includes a power source 402 operably connected to the oneor more sensors 104, the one or more control elements 106, the circuitry108, and the display 308. In other embodiments the power source 402 maybe operably connected to provide power to a different combination ofcomponents of the system, for example, more components or lesscomponents or simply a different combination of components. A powersource may be employed to provide power to any number of electronicinstruments and/or circuitry that may be implemented in a system such asthe system 400 shown in FIG. 4. Further, the system 400 may beconfigured in a number of different ways, and the system shown in FIG. 4is just one exemplary embodiment. For example, in some embodiments thecircuitry 108 and the display 308 may be housed in the same component.The one or more sensors 104 shown in FIG. 4 include a camera and one ormore sensors 104 located on the garment 200, however in otherembodiments the system may include a different number or combination ofsensors 104. The signals 204, 206, 208 are shown symbolically as waves,indicating electromagnetic, ultrasonic, or a different wave, however thesignals 204, 206, 208 may take a different form, such as an electricalsignal or other type of signal. Further, several of the components ofthe system 400 are shown substantially separate from the garment 200,however in some embodiments these components may be located on, in, orproximate to the garment 200. In other embodiments the components may belocated substantially separately from the garment 200, such as the casewhere the one or more sensors 104 include one or more cameras located ina fixed location in a building, for example. There are many differentways that the system of FIG. 4 may be configured and one skilled in theart may tailor the number, type, and configuration of the componentsaccording to a particular embodiment.

The circuitry 108 may be configured in a number of different ways. Forexample, the circuitry 108 may be configured to utilize a computationalmodel to predict the first change in the fabric shape corresponding tothe second signal.

In some embodiments the circuitry may be configured, as shown in FIG. 5,to compare the first shape of the fabric 502 to a first target shape504, and to determine the first change in the fabric shape according toa difference between the first shape of the fabric 502 and the firsttarget shape 504. The circuitry may be configured to do this iterativelywith successive target shapes where each of the successive target shapesmay correspond to different times, such as the case where a garment 200takes a pre-set amount of time to arrive at each target shape.

In some embodiments the circuitry may be configured to determine thefirst change in the fabric shape according to a rate of change from thefirst shape of the fabric to the first target shape, wherein the rate ofchange may correspond to a user-specified rate of change, to a propertyof the fabric, or to a different value. The circuitry may further beconfigured to determine the first change in the fabric shape accordingto a fabric property, wherein the fabric property may include fibertype, fiber dynamics, weave, mass, thickness, density, or a reflectiveproperty of the fabric. The circuitry may further be configured todetermine the first change in the fabric shape according to a change ina reflective property of the fabric.

In some embodiments the circuitry 108 may include mechanisms for storageof information, and may include one or more histories of detectedshape-related parameters, first shape(s) of the fabric, determinedchange(s) in fabric shape, and/or other values. The circuitry 108 may beconfigured to determine averages of detected shape-related parametersover time intervals, where the time interval may be selected by a user,pre-determined, or chosen in a different way. Or, the circuitry 108 maybe configured to process stored values in other ways. The circuitry 108may further be configured to compare measurements made in real-time,such as the first shape-related parameter, to similar storedmeasurements. In some embodiments the determined change in the fabricshape may be based on a difference between a measured parameter and astored parameter. An example of an embodiment in which stored parametersmay be used by the circuitry 108 to determine the first change in thefabric shape includes comparing the measured shape of a body part, suchas a joint, leg, or other part of a body, to a previously-measured shapeand/or an average of previously-measured shapes to determine swelling,damage, weight loss or gain, or another change in shape, and determiningthe first change in the fabric shape accordingly. There are manydifferent types of values, measurements, signals, and/or otherparameters that may be stored relative to a system such as isrepresented in FIGS. 1-8 and storage of parameters may be decidedaccording to a particular embodiment. Further, although the storage isdescribed here as being a part of the circuitry 108, in otherembodiments the storage may be separate or separable from the circuitry108.

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises: means for receiving a firstsignal corresponding to a first region of fabric; means for processingthe first signal to produce a first set of fabric shape changing data;means for producing a second signal based on the first set of fabricshape changing data; and means for transmitting the second signalcorresponding to a second region of fabric. These means correspondsubstantially to the circuitry 108 described with respect to FIGS. 1-8and with corresponding apparatus as described herein.

In one embodiment, depicted in the Flow Chart of FIG. 6, a methodcomprises: (602) receiving a first signal (204) corresponding to a firstregion of fabric; (604) processing (108) the first signal to produce afirst set of fabric shape changing data; (606) producing a second signal(206) based on the first set of fabric shape changing data; and (608)transmitting the second signal to a second region of fabric.

In this embodiment, the first region of fabric may correspondsubstantially to the second region of fabric, the first region of fabricmay partially overlap the second region of fabric, and/or the firstregion of fabric may be entirely different from the second region offabric.

The method corresponding to the Flow Chart of FIG. 6 may be understoodwith respect to FIGS. 1-5, where the first and second regions of fabricmay correspond to one or more portions of a garment, such as the garment200 shown in FIG. 2. Regions of fabric 304, 306 are illustrated in FIG.3, where in the embodiment of FIG. 3 the regions 304, 306 are partiallyoverlapping. However, in some embodiments the regions 304, 306 may besubstantially the same region such that they are almost entirelyoverlapping. In other embodiments the first and second regions 304, 306may not be overlapping at all, depending on the particular application.

The method of FIG. 6 may further comprise transmitting the second signalto a third region (not shown) different from the second region of fabric306 and proximate to the second region of fabric 306, wherein the thirdregion is configured to exert a force on the second region of fabric306. For example, the garment 200 may include an underlying layer offabric including the one or more control elements 106, wherein thisunderlying layer of fabric may include the third region and may beconfigured to exert a force on the first and/or second regions of fabric304, 306.

In this embodiment, processing the first signal to produce a first setof fabric shape changing data may include determining a shape of a bodypart proximate to the first region of fabric 304. For example, withrespect to FIG. 2, the one or more sensors 104 may be configured toreceive information related to the shape of the knee under the kneebrace (the knee brace is the garment 200), and the circuitry 108 may beconfigured to determine the shape of the knee according to theinformation received by the one or more sensors 104. The embodiment mayfurther include determining a shape corresponding to the first region offabric and comparing the body part shape to the first region of fabricshape. In this embodiment, for example, the one or more sensors 104 mayinclude sensors configured to determine the shape of the knee, andsensors configured to determine the shape of the knee brace (the garment200). This is just one example of a configuration in which differenttypes of sensors may be employed, and other embodiments may includeconfigurations with different types of sensors.

In some embodiments, processing the first signal to produce a first setof fabric shape changing data may include comparing the first signal toa reference signal. For example, with reference to FIG. 2, the firstsignal may be the signal 204, and the reference signal may be a signalgenerated by the circuitry 208 and corresponding to, for example, areference state of the garment 200. The reference signal may correspondto a particular shape of the garment 200, it may correspond to a userspecified shape of the garment 200, where the user may produce thereference signal by selecting a particular shape of the garment 200, orthe reference signal may be a different kind of reference.

The method of FIG. 6 may further comprise receiving a third signal(208), and processing the third signal 208 to produce the first set offabric shape changing data. As described previously with respect to FIG.2, the third signal 208 may include a variety of different information,including but not limited to physiological data such as temperatureand/or heart rate, information selected by a user, or a different typeof information.

In some embodiments, the first signal 204 and the third signal 208 mayboth correspond to information related to the fabric 102. For example,the first signal 204 may correspond to the first region of fabric andthe third signal 208 may correspond to a third region different from thefirst region of fabric. Or, the first and third signals 204, 208 mayboth correspond to the first region of fabric, but the different signalsmay correspond to different times.

In some embodiments, processing the first signal to produce a first setof fabric shape changing data may further include using a computationalmodel to produce the first set of fabric shape changing data.

In some embodiments, processing the first signal to produce a first setof fabric shape changing data may further include determining a firstshape of the first region of fabric (such as the shape 502 shown in FIG.5) based on the received first signal, which may further includedetermining an adjusted shape of the first region of fabric (such as theshape 504 shown in FIG. 5) to produce the first set of fabric shapechanging data and/or producing the first set of fabric shape changingdata based on a difference between the determined first shape (502) ofthe first region of fabric and a first target shape (such as the shape504 shown in FIG. 5) of the first region of fabric. In some embodimentsthe determined first shape 502 may correspond to a first time and thefirst target shape 504 may correspond to a second time different fromthe first time, and the first set of fabric shape changing data mayfurther be based on the difference between the first time and the secondtime. In some embodiments the processes outlined herein may be iterativeand/or cumulative including successive target shapes and correspondingsignals and processing associated.

In some embodiments, processing the first signal to produce a first setof fabric shape changing data may include processing the first signalaccording to a fabric property, wherein the fabric property includes atleast one of fiber type, fiber dynamics, weave mass, thickness, density,or a reflective property of the fabric. The fabric property may be priorknowledge and part of the circuitry 108, the fabric property may besomething that is measured by the one or more sensors 104, the fabricproperty may be something input by the user input 210, or the fabricproperty may be obtained and/or used by the circuitry in a differentway.

In some embodiments, transmitting the second signal corresponding to asecond region of fabric may include actuating one or more controlelements, such as the one or more control elements 106 shown in anddescribed with respect to FIGS. 1-4.

In some embodiments the method of FIG. 6 may further comprise producingthe second signal based on a predicted effect of the second signal onthe one or more control elements 106.

Although the previously described methods are described with respect tothe Flow Chart of FIG. 6, many of these methods apply to the methods ofthe Flow Charts of FIGS. 7 and 8. Further, the methods as will bedescribed with respect to the Flow Charts of FIGS. 7 and 8 may apply tothe method of FIG. 6.

In another embodiment, depicted in the Flow Chart of FIG. 7, a methodcomprises: (702) sensing a first shape-related parameter, the firstshape related parameter corresponding to a first region of fabric; (704)responsive to the sensed first shape-related parameter, producing afirst fabric shape changing signal; and (706) applying force to thesecond region of fabric according to the first fabric shape changingsignal.

In this embodiment, the first region of fabric may correspondsubstantially to the second region of fabric, the first region of fabricmay partially overlap the second region of fabric, and/or the firstregion of fabric may be entirely different from the second region offabric.

The method corresponding to the Flow Chart of FIG. 7 may be understoodwith respect to FIGS. 1-5, where the first and second regions of fabricmay correspond to one or more portions of a garment, such as the garment200 shown in FIG. 2.

The method may further comprise dynamically varying the force applied tothe second region of fabric according to the first fabric shape changingsignal. Dynamically variable control elements 106 have been describedpreviously with respect to FIGS. 1-5.

In one embodiment, sensing a first shape-related parameter may includemeasuring at least one of a voltage, a change in reflectivity, a changein electrical impedance, or a change in optical properties. In anotherembodiment, sensing a first shape-related parameter may includereceiving at least one of an electromagnetic signal, an ultrasonicsignal, an image, or a coordinate. Sensors 104 configured to measureand/or receive such parameters have been described previously.

In one embodiment, producing a first fabric shape changing signal mayinclude processing a second signal corresponding to the sensed firstshape-related parameter to produce the first fabric shape changingsignal. For example, the processing may be done by the circuitry 108 anddiscussed with respect to FIGS. 1-5. In this embodiment, processing asecond signal corresponding to the sensed first shape-related parameterto produce the first fabric shape changing signal may include using acomputational model to produce the first fabric shape changing signalresponsive to the second signal, which may further include simulating aresponse of the second region of fabric to one or more hypotheticalforces. Such a hypothetical force may be an externally applied force, aforce applied by the one or more control elements 106, a force appliedby the wearer, or a different kind of force.

In some embodiments, applying force to the second region of fabricaccording to the first fabric shape changing signal may further includeirreversibly changing at least a first portion of the second region offabric. Such irreversibly changes may occur, for example, where the oneor more control elements 106 are configured to, for example,irreversibly stretch or bend the fabric 102, or perform a differentoperation on the fabric 102 such that it is irreversibly changed.

Although the previously described methods are described with respect tothe Flow Chart of FIG. 7, many of these methods apply to the methods ofthe Flow Charts of FIGS. 6 and 8. Further, the methods as have been/willbe described with respect to the Flow Charts of FIGS. 6 and 8 may applyto the method of FIG. 7.

In another embodiment, depicted in the Flow Chart of FIG. 8, a methodcomprises: (802) producing a first set of initial condition datacorresponding to a predicted first shape of a first region of fabric;(804) processing the produced first set of initial condition data toproduce a first set of fabric shape changing data for a second region offabric; and (806) applying force to a second region of fabric accordingto the first set of fabric shape changing data.

In this embodiment, producing a first set of initial condition datacorresponding to a predicted shape of a first region of fabric mayinclude receiving a signal indicative of the first shape of the firstregion of fabric, and predicting the first shape of the first region offabric according to the received signal. The received signal may be, forexample, the signal 204 as shown in FIG. 2, where the signal 204 isproduced by the one or more sensors 104. Further, predicting the firstshape of the first region of fabric according to the received signal andproducing a first set of initial condition data corresponding to apredicted shape of a first region of fabric may be accomplished with thecircuitry 108 as shown in FIGS. 1-5.

Although the previously described methods are described with respect tothe Flow Chart of FIG. 8, many of these methods apply to the methods ofthe Flow Charts of FIGS. 6 and 7. Further, the methods as previouslydescribed with respect to the Flow Charts of FIGS. 6 and 7 may apply tothe method of FIG. 8.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing specificexemplary processes and/or devices and/or technologies arerepresentative of more general processes and/or devices and/ortechnologies taught elsewhere herein, such as in the claims filedherewith and/or elsewhere in the present application.

Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state of the arthas progressed to the point where there is little distinction leftbetween hardware, software, and/or firmware implementations of aspectsof systems; the use of hardware, software, and/or firmware is generally(but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardwareand software can become significant) a design choice representing costvs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in the art will appreciatethat there are various vehicles by which processes and/or systems and/orother technologies described herein can be effected (e.g., hardware,software, and/or firmware), and that the preferred vehicle will varywith the context in which the processes and/or systems and/or othertechnologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determinesthat speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for amainly hardware and/or firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibilityis paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly softwareimplementation; or, yet again alternatively, the implementer may opt forsome combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, thereare several possible vehicles by which the processes and/or devicesand/or other technologies described herein may be effected, none ofwhich is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to beutilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the vehiclewill be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed, flexibility, orpredictability) of the implementer, any of which may vary. Those skilledin the art will recognize that optical aspects of implementations willtypically employ optically-oriented hardware, software, and or firmware.

In some implementations described herein, logic and similarimplementations may include software or other control structures.Electronic circuitry, for example, may have one or more paths ofelectrical current constructed and arranged to implement variousfunctions as described herein. In some implementations, one or moremedia may be configured to bear a device-detectable implementation whensuch media hold or transmit a device detectable instructions operable toperform as described herein. In some variants, for example,implementations may include an update or modification of existingsoftware or firmware, or of gate arrays or programmable hardware, suchas by performing a reception of or a transmission of one or moreinstructions in relation to one or more operations described herein.Alternatively or additionally, in some variants, an implementation mayinclude special-purpose hardware, software, firmware components, and/orgeneral-purpose components executing or otherwise invokingspecial-purpose components. Specifications or other implementations maybe transmitted by one or more instances of tangible transmission mediaas described herein, optionally by packet transmission or otherwise bypassing through distributed media at various times.

Alternatively or additionally, implementations may include executing aspecial-purpose instruction sequence or invoking circuitry for enabling,triggering, coordinating, requesting, or otherwise causing one or moreoccurrences of virtually any functional operations described herein. Insome variants, operational or other logical descriptions herein may beexpressed as source code and compiled or otherwise invoked as anexecutable instruction sequence. In some contexts, for example,implementations may be provided, in whole or in part, by source code,such as C++, or other code sequences. In other implementations, sourceor other code implementation, using commercially available and/ortechniques in the art, may be compiled/implemented/translated/convertedinto a high-level descriptor language (e.g., initially implementingdescribed technologies in C or C++ programming language and thereafterconverting the programming language implementation into alogic-synthesizable language implementation, a hardware descriptionlanguage implementation, a hardware design simulation implementation,and/or other such similar mode(s) of expression). For example, some orall of a logical expression (e.g., computer programming languageimplementation) may be manifested as a Verilog-type hardware description(e.g., via Hardware Description Language (HDL) and/or Very High SpeedIntegrated Circuit Hardware Descriptor Language (VHDL)) or othercircuitry model which may then be used to create a physicalimplementation having hardware (e.g., an Application Specific IntegratedCircuit). Those skilled in the art will recognize how to obtain,configure, and optimize suitable transmission or computational elements,material supplies, actuators, or other structures in light of theseteachings.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment,several portions of the subject matter described herein may beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), orother integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium usedto actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearingmedium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable typemedium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), aDigital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and atransmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analogcommunication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wiredcommunications link, a wireless communication link (e.g., transmitter,receiver, transmission logic, reception logic, etc.), etc.).

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious embodiments described herein can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by various types of electro-mechanical systemshaving a wide range of electrical components such as hardware, software,firmware, and/or virtually any combination thereof; and a wide range ofcomponents that may impart mechanical force or motion such as rigidbodies, spring or torsional bodies, hydraulics, electro-magneticallyactuated devices, and/or virtually any combination thereof.Consequently, as used herein “electro-mechanical system” includes, butis not limited to, electrical circuitry operably coupled with atransducer (e.g., an actuator, a motor, a piezoelectric crystal, a MicroElectro Mechanical System (MEMS), etc.), electrical circuitry having atleast one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having atleast one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least oneapplication specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming ageneral purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g.,a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which atleast partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein,or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at leastpartially carries out processes and/or devices described herein),electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of memory(e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), electrical circuitryforming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch,optical-electrical equipment, etc.), and/or any non-electrical analogthereto, such as optical or other analogs. Those skilled in the art willalso appreciate that examples of electro-mechanical systems include butare not limited to a variety of consumer electronics systems, medicaldevices, as well as other systems such as motorized transport systems,factory automation systems, security systems, and/orcommunication/computing systems. Those skilled in the art will recognizethat electro-mechanical as used herein is not necessarily limited to asystem that has both electrical and mechanical actuation except ascontext may dictate otherwise.

In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious aspects described herein which can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware,and/or any combination thereof can be viewed as being composed ofvarious types of “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein“electrical circuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electricalcircuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electricalcircuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitryhaving at least one application specific integrated circuit, electricalcircuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by acomputer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by acomputer program which at least partially carries out processes and/ordevices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computerprogram which at least partially carries out processes and/or devicesdescribed herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g.,forms of memory (e.g., random access, flash, read only, etc.)), and/orelectrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem,communications switch, optical-electrical equipment, etc.). Those havingskill in the art will recognize that the subject matter described hereinmay be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or some combinationthereof.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that at least a portion of thedevices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into animage processing system. Those having skill in the art will recognizethat a typical image processing system generally includes one or more ofa system unit housing, a video display device, memory such as volatileor non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors or digitalsignal processors, computational entities such as operating systems,drivers, applications programs, one or more interaction devices (e.g., atouch pad, a touch screen, an antenna, etc.), control systems includingfeedback loops and control motors (e.g., feedback for sensing lensposition and/or velocity; control motors for moving/distorting lenses togive desired focuses). An image processing system may be implementedutilizing suitable commercially available components, such as thosetypically found in digital still systems and/or digital motion systems.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that at least a portion of thedevices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a dataprocessing system. Those having skill in the art will recognize that adata processing system generally includes one or more of a system unithousing, a video display device, memory such as volatile or non-volatilememory, processors such as microprocessors or digital signal processors,computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphicaluser interfaces, and applications programs, one or more interactiondevices (e.g., a touch pad, a touch screen, an antenna, etc.), and/orcontrol systems including feedback loops and control motors (e.g.,feedback for sensing position and/or velocity; control motors for movingand/or adjusting components and/or quantities). A data processing systemmay be implemented utilizing suitable commercially available components,such as those typically found in data computing/communication and/ornetwork computing/communication systems.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that at least a portion of thedevices and/or processes described herein can be integrated into a motesystem. Those having skill in the art will recognize that a typical motesystem generally includes one or more memories such as volatile ornon-volatile memories, processors such as microprocessors or digitalsignal processors, computational entities such as operating systems,user interfaces, drivers, sensors, actuators, applications programs, oneor more interaction devices (e.g., an antenna USB ports, acoustic ports,etc.), control systems including feedback loops and control motors(e.g., feedback for sensing or estimating position and/or velocity;control motors for moving and/or adjusting components and/orquantities). A mote system may be implemented utilizing suitablecomponents, such as those found in mote computing/communication systems.Specific examples of such components entail such as Intel Corporation'sand/or Crossbow Corporation's mote components and supporting hardware,software, and/or firmware.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the artto implement devices and/or processes and/or systems, and thereafter useengineering and/or other practices to integrate such implemented devicesand/or processes and/or systems into more comprehensive devices and/orprocesses and/or systems. That is, at least a portion of the devicesand/or processes and/or systems described herein can be integrated intoother devices and/or processes and/or systems via a reasonable amount ofexperimentation. Those having skill in the art will recognize thatexamples of such other devices and/or processes and/or systems mightinclude—as appropriate to context and application—all or part of devicesand/or processes and/or systems of (a) an air conveyance (e.g., anairplane, rocket, helicopter, etc.), (b) a ground conveyance (e.g., acar, truck, locomotive, tank, armored personnel carrier, etc.), (c) abuilding (e.g., a home, warehouse, office, etc.), (d) an appliance(e.g., a refrigerator, a washing machine, a dryer, etc.), (e) acommunications system (e.g., a networked system, a telephone system, aVoice over IP system, etc.), (f) a business entity (e.g., an InternetService Provider (ISP) entity such as Comcast Cable, Qwest, SouthwesternBell, etc.), or (g) a wired/wireless services entity (e.g., Sprint,Cingular, Nextel, etc.), etc.

In certain cases, use of a system or method may occur in a territoryeven if components are located outside the territory. For example, in adistributed computing context, use of a distributed computing system mayoccur in a territory even though parts of the system may be locatedoutside of the territory (e.g., relay, server, processor, signal-bearingmedium, transmitting computer, receiving computer, etc. located outsidethe territory).

A sale of a system or method may likewise occur in a territory even ifcomponents of the system or method are located and/or used outside theterritory.

Further, implementation of at least part of a system for performing amethod in one territory does not preclude use of the system in anotherterritory.

All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications,U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applicationsand non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/orlisted in any Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein byreference, to the extent not inconsistent herewith.

One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein describedcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussionaccompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptualclarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated.Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and theaccompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their moregeneral classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended tobe representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specificcomponents (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be takenlimiting.

Although user is shown/described herein as a single illustrated figure,those skilled in the art will appreciate that user may be representativeof a human user, a robotic user (e.g., computational entity), and/orsubstantially any combination thereof (e.g., a user may be assisted byone or more robotic agents) unless context dictates otherwise. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that, in general, the same may besaid of “sender” and/or other entity-oriented terms as such terms areused herein unless context dictates otherwise.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures may beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components soassociated can also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or“operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewedas being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically mateable and/or physically interactingcomponents, and/or wirelessly interactable, and/or wirelesslyinteracting components, and/or logically interacting, and/or logicallyinteractable components.

In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as“configured to,” “configurable to,” “operable/operative to,”“adapted/adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable/conformed to,” etc. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that such terms (e.g. “configured to”)can generally encompass active-state components and/or inactive-statecomponents and/or standby-state components, unless context requiresotherwise.

While particular aspects of the present subject matter described hereinhave been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modificationsmay be made without departing from the subject matter described hereinand its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are toencompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as arewithin the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein.It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to claims containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “Aor B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A”or “B” or “A and B.”

With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art willappreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed inany order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in asequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may beperformed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may beperformed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may includeoverlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental,preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variantorderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like“responsive to,” “related to,” or other past-tense adjectives aregenerally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictatesotherwise.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopeand spirit being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a garment including: a fabric; one or more sensors, the one or more sensors being arranged to detect a shape-related parameter of the fabric and responsive to the detected shape-related parameter to produce a first signal; and one or more control elements responsive to a second signal and arranged to provide a force on the fabric corresponding to the second signal; and circuitry responsive to the first signal to determine an initial shape of the fabric, to determine a change in the fabric shape according to a difference between the initial shape of the fabric and a target shape, and to produce the second signal according to the determined change in the fabric shape.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is further responsive to stored information to determine the change in the fabric shape.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the stored information includes a previously-measured shape-related parameter.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is further responsive to a user input to determine the change in the fabric shape.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fabric is substantially elastic.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors is integral to the fabric.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the one or more control elements is integral to the fabric.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is integral to the garment.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the circuitry is further configured to utilize a computational model to predict the change in the fabric shape.
 10. In an apparatus comprising a fabric coupled to electronic circuitry, a method comprising: sensing a shape-related parameter, the shape-related parameter corresponding to a region of the fabric; producing data corresponding to an initial shape of the region of the fabric according to the sensed shape-related parameter; responsive to the produced data corresponding to the initial shape, selecting a target shape of the region of fabric and producing a fabric shape changing signal, the fabric shape changing signal being selected to produce the target shape of the region of the fabric; and applying force to the region of the fabric according to the fabric shape changing signal to produce the target shape.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the region of the fabric forms at least a portion of a garment.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein sensing a shape-related parameter includes: receiving at least one of an electromagnetic signal, an ultrasonic signal, an image, and a coordinate.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein applying force to the region of the fabric according to the fabric shape changing signal includes: applying a voltage across an electroactive polymer.
 14. The method of claim 10 wherein applying force to the region of the fabric according to the fabric shape changing signal includes: actuating a mechanical metamaterial.
 15. The method of claim 10 wherein applying force to the region of the fabric according to the fabric shape changing signal includes: providing at least one of a magnetic, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and a thermally induced force to the region of the fabric.
 16. The method of claim 10 wherein applying force to the region of the fabric according to the fabric shape changing signal includes: providing a force between a first sub-region of the region of the fabric and a second sub-region, different from the first sub-region, of the region of the fabric.
 17. The method of claim 10 wherein applying force to the region of the fabric according to the fabric shape changing signal includes: providing a force to at least one fiber in the region of the fabric, wherein providing a force to the at least one fiber in the region of the fabric includes applying at least one of a longitudinal stretching force, a lateral force, a bending moment, a bending force, and a torque.
 18. The method of claim 10 wherein producing a fabric shape changing signal includes: processing a second signal corresponding to the sensed shape-related parameter to produce the fabric shape changing signal.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein processing a second signal corresponding to the sensed shape-related parameter to produce the fabric shape changing signal includes: using a computational model to produce the fabric shape changing signal responsive to the second signal.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein using a computational model to produce the fabric shape changing signal responsive to the second signal includes: simulating a response of the region of the fabric to one or more hypothetical forces.
 21. The method of claim 18 wherein processing a second signal corresponding to the sensed shape-related parameter to produce the fabric shape changing signal includes: comparing the second signal to a reference signal.
 22. The method of claim 10 wherein the shape changing signal includes at least one of electromagnetic energy, electrical energy, ultrasonic energy, and acoustic energy.
 23. The method of claim 18 wherein the second signal includes at least one of electromagnetic energy, electrical energy, ultrasonic energy, and acoustic energy.
 24. The method of claim 18 wherein processing a second signal corresponding to the sensed shape-related parameter to produce the fabric shape changing signal includes: determining an initial shape of the region of the fabric.
 25. The method of claim 24 wherein processing a second signal corresponding to the sensed shape-related parameter to produce the fabric shape changing signal further includes: determining an adjusted shape of the region of fabric.
 26. The method of claim 24 wherein processing a second signal corresponding to the sensed shape-related parameter to produce the fabric shape changing signal further includes: comparing the initial shape of the region of the fabric to the target shape; and determining the fabric shape changing signal according to a difference between the initial shape of the region of the fabric and the target shape.
 27. The method of claim 10 wherein the producing the fabric shape changing signal is further responsive to a fabric property, wherein the fabric property includes at least one of fiber type, fiber dynamics, weave, mass, thickness, density, and reflective property of the fabric.
 28. The method of claim 10 wherein applying force to the region of the fabric according to the fabric shape changing signal includes: irreversibly changing at least a portion of the region of the fabric.
 29. The method of claim 10 wherein the shape-related parameter includes at least one of a force, a stress, a pressure, a strain, a bend, a twist, a deformation, a geometry, a surface topology, an orientation, a reflective property, and a position of one or more portions of the garment.
 30. An apparatus comprising: one or more sensors, the one or more sensors being arranged to detect a shape-related parameter of a fabric and responsive to the detected shape-related parameter to produce a first signal; a garment including: the fabric; and one or more control elements arranged to provide a force on the fabric corresponding to a second signal different from the first signal; and circuitry responsive to the first signal to determine an initial shape of the fabric, to determine a change in the fabric shape according to a difference between the initial shape of the fabric and a target shape, and to produce the second signal according to a first determined change in the fabric shape.
 31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is external to the garment.
 32. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising: a display operably connected to at least one of the one or more sensors to show information related to at least a portion of the garment.
 33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the display is configured to show an image of at least a portion of the garment. 